Patents by Inventor Douglas K. Benn

Douglas K. Benn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140050669
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of imaging dental tissue. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of imaging dental caries by administering a topical intra-oral composition that provides enhanced radiographic imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Douglas K. Benn
  • Publication number: 20110311116
    Abstract: An imaging system and methods for processing a two-dimensional image from three-dimensional image information is disclosed. Images are segmented into foreground regions and background regions. An object-centered coordinate system is created and a hierarchical anatomical model is accessed to classify object in order to identify an anatomical object. The anatomical text labels are generated and positioned on the image slices and at least one image slice is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Creighton University
    Inventor: Douglas K. Benn
  • Patent number: 7343305
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for charting tooth decay to assist in caries management. Specifically, the invention provides a computer system, a Graphical User Interface(GUI), a method, and associated computer code for presenting an interactive tooth chart comprising selectable, anatomically correct tooth icons corresponding to a dental patient's teeth. The invention allows a user to select regions of each individual tooth icon to record the condition of the selected region. According to the invention, a dental patient is selected from a patient data base, the patent's teeth are examined, and the condition of each tooth region is recorded using selectable icons. The invention further provides automatic characterization of dental conditions based on standard values and previously recorded conditions to indicate progression of disease. In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a recommended course of clinical management based on the information recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Benn, Stephen H. Kostewicz, Douglas D. Dankel, II
  • Publication number: 20020178032
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for charting tooth decay to assist in caries management. Specifically, the invention provides a computer system, a Graphical User Interface(GUI), a method, and associated computer code for presenting an interactive tooth chart comprising selectable, anatomically correct tooth icons corresponding to a dental patient's teeth. The invention allows a user to select regions of each individual tooth icon to record the condition of the selected region. According to the invention, a dental patient is selected from a patient data base, the patent's teeth are examined, and the condition of each tooth region is recorded using selectable icons. The invention further provides automatic characterization of dental conditions based on standard values and previously recorded conditions to indicate progression of disease. In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a recommended course of clinical management based on the information recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Douglas K. Benn, Stephen H. Kostewicz, Douglas D. Dankel
  • Patent number: 5734740
    Abstract: A method for quantitatively evaluating the quality of radiographic films is disclosed. The method provides for digitizing a radiographic image to form a digital image made up of a plurality of pixels. The individual pixels of the digitized image are assigned grey level values. These grey level values are summed to form a global histogram representing all of the pixels of the digital image. The histogram is subsequently binned and subdivided to form first and second binned histograms. A series of rules is applied to these histograms to evaluate whether the radiographic film is clinically acceptable for use in making a diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: University of Florida
    Inventors: Douglas K. Benn, Minbo Shim